Montclair State School of Nursing Launches BSN Degree Program

First freshmen will enroll in comprehensive four-year-program this fall

The School of Nursing at Montclair State University has announced that
it is accepting applications for admission to its newly launched four-year
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program. The School will enroll its
first class of up to 50 freshman students this fall.

“The BSN is the preferred degree for entry into registered nursing
practice,” says School of Nursing Dean Janice Smolowitz. “With the new BSN
degree program, we plan to enroll students beginning in the freshman year so
they can engage with faculty as they develop the skills and critical thinking required
for nursing practice.” After earning their BSN degrees, graduates will be
eligible for licensure as registered nurses (RNs).

“By developing new programs, such as the new BSN degree program,
Montclair State has been able to proactively meet the evolving educational needs
of New Jersey and beyond,” says Montclair State University President Susan A.
Cole. “The School of Nursing was established to meet a demand for highly
qualified nurses that is expected to continue well into the foreseeable future.
Our BSN degree program provides a top-quality nursing education that fully
prepares tomorrow’s nurses to respond to the challenges of a changing health care
industry by delivering state-of-the-art care.”

The School of Nursing enrolled its first cohort of 54 students in its
inaugural Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) degree
program in fall 2016. This program is designed so that RNs who graduated from
associate degree and diploma programs can earn a BSN degree. The BSN degree opens
doors to career advancement and is associated with improved patient outcomes.

The new, comprehensive BSN program – like the RN to BSN program – provides
a foundation for graduate education and lifelong professional development.
Admitted to the program as freshmen, students will be prepared to provide
compassionate, coordinated health care services for persons within the context
of family and community.

“Grounded in nursing as a human caring science, our innovative BSN
curriculum has been designed to meet the needs of New Jersey’s culturally
diverse communities, across settings and time,” explains Smolowitz.

Students in the BSN degree program will also be able to gain a better
understanding of the professional role of nurses by collaborating with RNs who
are completing their coursework in the RN to BSN program.

All School of Nursing programs are held in a newly renovated
50,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility, including lecture halls, fully
mediated classrooms, an anatomy lab and computer study areas. Specially
designed nursing laboratory spaces provide dedicated areas where students
develop skills in specific procedures, while a high-tech simulation center
fosters student decision-making, problem-solving and interpersonal-communication
skills.

“We are looking to the future,” says Smolowitz. “We have recruited a
very forward-thinking faculty who are fully committed to educating nurses prepared
to meet the needs of individuals and populations in a rapidly evolving,
technologically advanced health care system.”